Principal Scientist

Job Description

You will be joining the Clinical & Emerging Infections Directorate working in the Acute Respiratory Infections unit of the Tuberculosis (TB) Acute Respiratory, Zoonoses, Emerging infection, and Travel health division (TARZET). The mission of TARZET is toprotect the public from respiratory, imported, emerging, and novel infections through world-leading public health microbiology and virology, outbreak response, surveillance, research and interventions.We are a multidisciplinary team delivering surveillance, epidemiology, public health and clinical advice, microbiology and virology, incident and outbreak response, and advice to government. We work closely with NHS England and NHS Trusts, with internationalagencies and colleagues, and in a fully integrated way with multiple academic partners, with associated research opportunities.The post holder, based at the UKHSA Colindale site, will take a senior role in providing and developing national surveillance of acute respiratory infections, developing guidance and leading research studies. There are a number of areas of focus within theUnit including but not limited to:Avian and other zoonotic influenzas, Coronaviruses (other than SARS-CoV2), and Legionella Mycoplasma. The role will involve working in a small team to provide scientific support to the analysis, operation, and development of surveillance systems includingdevelopment of methodology and directing changes to data capture systems in liaison with system architects and software developers. The role may involve day-to-day management of scientific, technical and information staff within their Section.Essential Criteria:It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1250 words (max 1500) that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the essential criteria (for full details of all essential criteria please refer to the attached job description, you must review this to produce your statement of suitability): Essential

• Educated to degree level in a relevant scientific subject or significant experience of working at a similar level in this field
• Higher degree in epidemiology/ public health/ microbiology or related discipline
• Training in research methods, infectious disease epidemiology, surveillance, prevention and/or public health
• Knowledge and work experience of communicable disease epidemiology
• Broad understanding of and experience of health care systems, public health and the communicable disease function in the UK
• Strong statistical analysis of large and complex datasets, including knowledge and experience with STATA and/or R
• Writing research protocols, grant applications and scientific reports
• Preparing and reviewing standard operating procedures
• Able to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team and motivate and encourage team members
• Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues including problem solving, working to tight and often changing timescales
• Communicate ideas and methods clearly and succinctly
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships

Desirable

• PhD or equivalent research experience
• Substantial post-graduate experience
• Creating, validating and managing large databases and datasets
• Presenting scientific papers at national and international meetings and conferences and proven peer review publication record
• Experience of working within the NHS or other health-related sectors
• Managing and leading scientific and technical staff including working under pressure and to tight deadlines
• Liaise with a wide range of external collaborators including health service and academic professionals
• Maintain required levels of confidentiality